English literature attaches special importance to the Elizabethan era, primarily because it served as the backdrop for Shakespeare’s prolific works. As a result, this era attracts more attention in the field of UGC NET, with many questions likely to be focused on it. While William Shakespeare undoubtedly deserves attention, it’s worth noting that he was not the only great figure of the period. There were many writers in the Elizabethan era, some of whom predated Shakespeare and influenced his own works. Let us learn about the major writers of the Elizabethan era and their notable works.
What is the Elizabethan era?
The Elizabethan era in English literature spans from approximately 1550 to 1630, coinciding with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). This period is marked by a significant flourishing of literary works, collectively known as Elizabethan literature, and writers of this time are called Elizabethan authors. Notable features of this era include the strong influence of classical works, prolific literary production, and a rich literary culture nurtured by a stable and favorable socio-political environment.
Elizabethan era writers and their works
The Elizabethan period holds special significance throughout the history of English literature for its superior dramatic output. This was the first and greatest truly Romantic era. The authors returned to the classics and drew inspiration freely from the works of Virgil and other Roman and Greek authors.
Even though this era is surrounded by drama and theatrics such as William Shakespeare, there was still considerable poetic power and quality arising from ability that demands attention. Poets such as Edmund Spenser were the most recognizable voices of this era. So, let’s take a look at Elizabethan writers and their works.
University Wits
Even before the great Bard, William Shakespeare, who was mainly college-educated with some from Cambridge and Oxford, paved the way for him. They were collectively called the University Wits. He did much to establish the Elizabethan School of Drama. This group of writers were more or less familiar with themselves.
| University intellects and their functions | |
| Author’s name | their work |
| john lilly |
|
| george peel |
|
| robert green |
|
| Thomas Nash |
|
| Thomas Lodge |
|
| thomas kidd |
|
| christopher marlowe |
|
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
The most popular writer of his time and of English literature. Shakespeare took drama to new heights that have hardly been touched by anyone since, much less in his dramatic output. He wrote long narrative poems such as Venus and Adonis (1593) and The Rape of Lucrece (1594). Although the concrete date of the works is not known, it is largely a guess.
| William Shakespeare and his works | |
| year published | works |
| 1591-1592 |
|
| 1593 |
|
| 1594 |
|
| 1595 |
|
| 1596 |
|
| 1597 | |
| 1598 |
|
| 1599 | |
| 1600 |
|
| 1601 | |
| 1602 |
|
| 1604 |
|
| 1605 | |
| 1606 |
|
| 1607 |
|
| 1608 | |
| 1609 | |
| 1610 | |
| 1611 | |
| 1613 | |
Ben Jonson (1573-1637)
After Shakespeare, Jonson emerged as a recognizable figure in drama. Although the quality of the work cannot be compared with Shakespeare’s, it is still a matter of merit that requires close study. Like Donne, he rebelled against the artistic principles of his contemporaries. He attempted in the Classic to express the unrestrained and romantic enthusiasm of the ethos of his time period. For him the main function of literature was to give instructions.
| Ben Jonson and his published works | |
| date of publication | Work |
| 1598 | every man in his humor |
| 1599 | every man out of his humor |
| 1600 | Cynthia’s Revelations |
| 1601 | Poet |
| 1605 | Volpone, or The Fox |
| 1608 | mask of beauty |
| 1609 |
|
| 1610 | alchemist |
| 1611 | Oberon, the Fair Prince |
| 1614 | Bartholomew Fairey |
| 1616 | the devil is a donkey |
Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) and John Fletcher (1579–1625)
He mostly collaborated and produced comedies and tragedies of varying merit. He prepared a lot of work. However, authorship, and how much joint work is attributed to whom, is not precisely known.
| List of works by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher | |
| date of publication | Work |
| 1611 | a king and no king |
| 1607 | knight of the burning pestle |
| 1613 | despised woman |
| 1610 | the maid’s tragedy |
| 1611 | Philaster |
Other playwrights of the Elizabethan era
Apart from the single name of Ben Jonson, in the post-Shakespearean Elizabethan era, there were many playwrights writing on a wide range of subjects. The quality of work throughout his career is not good and there are only a handful of flashes. Regardless of the number, there were some playwrights you should pay attention to and pay attention to their famous works.
| Other playwrights of the Elizabethan era and their works | |
| Author’s name | works |
| George Chapman (1559–1634) |
|
| John Marston (1575–1634) |
|
| Thomas Dekker (1572–1632) |
|
| Thomas Middleton (1570–1627) |
|
| Thomas Heywood (1575–1650) |
|
| John Webster (1578–1632) |
|
| Cyril Tourneur (1575–1626) |
|
conclusion
The Elizabethan era, also known as the Renaissance in England, was a prosperous time for literature, marked by many talented authors and their notable works. The era’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare, created such classics as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” and “Macbeth.” Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare’s contemporary, gained fame for such plays as “Doctor Faustus” and “Tamburlaine.” The witty comedies of John Lyly, including “Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit”, further enriched the literary landscape of the Elizabethan era. These writers and their works left an indelible mark on English literature, and their contributions are still cherished and studied today.
Download UGC NET English Study Note PDF
To download UGC NET English Study Note PDF, the candidate has to click on the following link. It is beneficial for the candidates to download and save the NET English Study Notes PDF to easily refer to it during preparation and revision.
sharing is Caring!
